Foreign Devils Read Online Free Page B

time, Shoe?’
    ‘A message from the Emperor.’
    ‘And?’
    ‘I don’t know, ma’am. He told me to fetch you. As I said, he was—’
    ‘Adamant. Right.’ She lifted her medical case and said, ‘All right, let’s go.’
    ‘Let me get that for you,’ I said, offering to take the heavy case from her. Miss Livia handed it to me – and I realized that she was no longer a ‘miss’ now that she and Fisk had married and maybe she never was, but that’s how I always thought of her and still do to this day. There are some women who can bear the hardship and ignominy of life and remain blushing, fresh all their days. Livia was such a woman. And so her memory has never become lessened in my mind throughout the years.
    We entered the tent and Cornelius held the letter in his hands, his face a study in concern. Carnelia had joined them and sat silently at the end of the table, slightly behind her father, as if trying not to draw his attention.
    ‘What is it, Father?’ Livia asked.
    ‘A letter from Tamberlaine. You’re involved.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘It seems that our Emperor has heard of your nuptials and has decided to use it against me,’ Cornelius said.
    ‘What does he say?’ Livia’s voice remained calm. Even Tamberlaine could not ruffle her composure.
    ‘Secundus?’ Cornelius said, proffering the parchment to his son. ‘Why don’t you do the honours?’
    Secundus took the letter and read:
    ‘“To Gnaeus Saturnalius Cornelius, Governor of Occidentalia (Or The So-Called Hardscrabble Territories west of the Imperial Protectorate), Proconsul of Rume, Ambassador to Mediera, Princep of the College of Augurs, and in general a Crafty Old Bastard; from your Emperor, Lord and Master, Tamberlaine Best and Greatest, Ruler of Myriad Kingdoms, Wielder of the Secret of Emrys, Sacred God of the Latinum Hills, Master Debator and Adept Rhetorictician, and in general a Crafty Old Bastard As Well—”’
    ‘Well,’ Fisk said, leaning back in his chair. ‘That was chummy.’
    ‘Quite,’ Cornelius said, tightly. ‘He’s just getting started. Go on, Secundus.’
    ‘It begins “Snuffy—”,’ Secundus said. ‘Snuffy? That’s you?’
    ‘We had the same tutor as lads,’ Cornelius said. He did not seem happy with the letter at all.
    ‘That sounds friendly enough, Father,’ Secundus said, smiling.
    ‘It most assuredly is not. Read the blasted thing, boy.’ Cornelius’ moustache quivered. He occupied his mouth with whiskey and tabac.
    ‘“Snuffy, as for the dispensation of the troops in the Hardscrabble Territories, the fifth will of course remain at the fort in New Damnation, and the eighth and sixteenth should be en route by mechanized baggage train to Fort Brust and then on westward, per your recommendations. The thirteenth shall remain with the eleventh at Fort Brust to protect our interests, specifically to ensure the completion of the Dvergar Spur. That avenue of transport must be opened. The Medierans are moving and the blocade in the Gulf of Mageras is building strength. We must be ready should fat old Diegal get his cock hard enough to thrust.
    “The news that Beleth has defected is of great concern to me. My advisors here tell me he was high in the college of Engineers, indeed, he was princep of the organization and wielded great power there – and was privy to all the secrets of the summoners. The events surrounding the Diegal lass are extremely unfortunate. You really screwed the Ia-damned goat in that debacle, Snuffy. In addition to your losing the girl, placing half an empire on war footing and, in general, destabilizing peaceful relations in all of creation, I have been having trouble grasping that this daemonic vestment Beleth created could negate the effects of Hellfire. Thankfully, we still have it in our possession. Please explain to me, in detail, how this could be so. I will, however, inform all commanders in the western theatre to recommence training with pilum and gladii, effectively